State of Georgia inaugural address of Lamartine Griffin Hardman, June 29, 1929

STATE OF GEORGIA
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
of
Lamartine Griffin Hardman
Atlanta Georgia

GOVERNOR L, G. HARDMAN.

INAUGURAL ADDRESS
MR. PRESIDENT, MR. SPEAKER, MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
In compliance with the Constitution of the State of Georgia, and relying upon the protection and guidance of God, we have assembled this Inaugural occasion to re-dedicate ourselves in service to the welfare, protection and development of the people of this State.
This inaugural occasion brings to a close the administration of affairs of this State-the biennial, or service rendered by the Legislature and the Governor for the last two years. The deeds performed and the service rendered the citizens of the State are now a record of history.
Before we enter upon our duties as Legislators for 1929 and the coming administration, I desire to express my appreciation of the confidence reposed in me by re-electing me to a second term as Chief Executive of this Commonwealth, representing approximately 3,203,000 people-a confidence and honor that would be highly appreciated by any citizen of any State.
While everything that we so much desired has not been accomplished, we have had problems brought to our minds, and been confronted with conditions in a way that have enlisted the interest of every citizen of this State; and to some degree, I believe that every citizen has been studying the problems that are presented to this General Assembly for their solution.
If for no other reason than bringing to our minds the great problems that confront Georgia, and directing our thoughts to the study of the same, the last Legislature and the Governor of the present biennial of administration just ending, have meant a great deal to this State. The solution to some of the problems that confront you today has been suggested by former Governors of the State.
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The opportunity and r~sponsibility are now upon the new administration to solve-the problems that you are studying today and will be called upon in the next sixty days to solve in a way that will give to this State a better, a simpler and a more complete business-like method for administering our affairs. This, it appeals to me can be done, and the duty and honor are yours-and the service rendered should be for the good of the people.
It is apparent in our own State, and indeed in most, if not all of the states of this Union, that there is a need and a demand for a more modern business-like arrangement of operating the State's affairs, that will simplify our plan of operation, and thereby suggest to us equality and justice in the support of our State Government and our State institutions.
In our study of the history of Georgia, we are forced to the acknowledgment that ours is a State which is bound to march triumphantly forward. She has ever been a State of Pioneers, a State which might waver but which has never halted in its progressive course. We are descendants of the founders of this great Nation. In no other state is there such a mingling of America's noblest heritages; and in every crisis of her history, Georgia has looked forward-in the earliest days of our struggling Nationin the period of conflict between the North and the South, and in those trying days of the era called the period of Reconstruction.
During the last decades of the Nineteenth Century, Georgia became a leader of the New South; she established her industrial leadership so well that today she stands in the front rank of the Southern States; and in declaring for a Business Administration of the State's affairs, a business-like government founded on the bed-rock of honesty and righteousness, she has made another stride forward.
Two years ago, when accepting the Governor-ship of Georgia, the task. of aiding every effort made in the direction of increased efficiency was also accepted. Basing my belief upon my knowledge of the spirit of co-operation existing in the State at present, and because my confidence in the citizens of Georgia is unwavering, I look forward to still greater governmental efficiency-still more curtailment of wastes, for we cannot but
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recognize the need and the importance of modern business methods in the financing of the State's affairs.
During the present administration I desire to mention some of the things that have been accomplished along this line. In the First Message to the General Assembly of the State of Georgia, it was suggested and recommended that they provide plans by which the General Assembly would have opportunity to study our State Government and State Administration-or that the Governor of the State be provided with means to secure experts for the study of our State Government and State Administration, and to report back to the General Assembly; but this was denied at the last session.
Now, before the meeting of the present General Assembly, the Governor of this State has appointed Commissions to study and to accumulate information to be presented to you, which will be an aid to you in taking such action in regard to the study of the problem of education, highways, State Government, tax, health and crime as will simplify, economize and make efficient every department and institution of the State-that will give the greatest service to the greatest number of people.
EDUCATION
One of the most important elements of our Commonwealth is that of education. Education must be accompanied with the highest ideals to the fundamental principles of government, virtue, integrity and efficiency. The State that neglects its people on this basis, leaves them undeveloped, unsafe, non-productive and non-progressive.
The subject of education in this State has not the proper financial support that it deserves. The appropriation of money for this or any other department, or institution of the State, without providing for revenue, is unsatisfactory and brings discord, disc;ontent and criticism. It is useless to appropriate money without providing the funds to meet the appropriation. Appropriations should be kept within the bounds of the revenue of the State. We should appropriate a definite sum for a definite purpose, and to be paid at a stated time; and the money should be provided to meet the appropriations. It does not relieve the
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needs to appropriate $12,158,679.08, the appropriation for 1928, with the revenue of the General Fund $9,623,492.93-leaving a deficit of $2,535,186.15. There is always an activity in the interest of appropriations, but not so much looking to providing revenue. This is an unbusiness-like procedure and cannot bring progress. With this in mind, a Commission consisting of citizens, representatives and officials was appointed to study every phase of the educational problem, this Commission to report to you their findings.
This General Assembly which is now convened, in my judgment-taking the history of the affairs of this State-will provide sufficient revenue to adequately support all the institutions and the State departments.
TAXES
The subject of tax is seldom a pleasant one; but a Government cannot be supported without revenue. Justice demands that every species of value shall contribute its share to progress. Each species of value receives its contributions and income from the conditions created, largely, by the principles of a Democratic Government, as we have, and should contribute its pro rata share, according to its income, to the affairs of State; and to this end a Commission was appointed consisting, as in the Educational Commission, of citizens, representatives and officials, that every phase of the tax question might be studied and data furnished to you as far as it is possible to do so.
COMMISSIONS
There were five (5) Commissions, and two Special Commissions appointed-The Tax Commission; The Education Commission; The Health Commission; The Highway Commission; The State Government Commission; and the Special Commissionsone for the study of Crime, and our laws as relate to crime; and, the other to .study the conditions and needs of a tubercular sanatorium for the criminals at Milledgeville.
I desire also to call attention to the study of the matter of clemency, parole or pardon of the tubercular criminal. The present Administration has seen fit, in cases of application for pardon,
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parole or commutation of the tubercular criminal, that they shall present a statement from the community where the tubercular criminal is to go, signed first by a local physician, and that the community and local physician obligate themselves to segregate the tubercular criminal from his family and community, and to administer proper treatment and food to this criminal. By so doing, the tubercular criminal does not infect his children or family and community, and himself has a better opportunity to recover from this disease.
In one instance there were five children in a family, all small children, whose father was a tubercular criminal, violating the prohibition law. The wife and five children appeared before the Governor asking for pardon. It was suggested to her that the Governor of this State would be doing a great injustice to her and to the children to pardon the husband and father, without proper segregation and care. From such infected criminals this disease would be spread to the community and cause additional burden to the State in the children's hospital for tuberculosis, at Alto, Ga., as well as the infection that might occur to the adult. In five cases of pardon of this type the facts show that splendid results have been accomplished, in that the criminal himself has been benefited and the community protected. The requirements for clemency in these cases is a matter entirely in the hands of the Governor of the State.
HIGHWAYS
The highway problem has been studied by the Highway Commission, and the personnel of this Department has been agreeably and satisfactorily adjusted during the present administration; and it is now a matter of legislation to improve and make better laws for us in regard to the building of highways in our State.
HEALTH
There is no problem that is more vital to a State than the subject of health. The efficiency, the happiness and prosperity of a people depends upon their earning capacity, which demands good health-which, of course, means greater man-power.
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is The health problems in our Health Department-which of comparatively recent date in its establishment-have been splendidly handled. This Department has made wonderful contributions to the welfare and health of our State, and saved hundreds of thousands of dollars to her citizens, as well as saved human life and prevented much suffering.
A recent report from Washington, through the National Chamber of Commerce, estimates "the money losses in this country from sickness through lost wages, salaries and reduced productive effort, plus the cost of necessary care, aggregate $2,250,000,000.00 a year." "The total capital value of lives now lost from causes which are known to be preventable, it said, is estimated to be over $6,000,000,000.00 annually."
The present Administration has made another contribution to this Department, in that it has invested $14,971.58 out of the funds appropriated your Public Building and Health Department, to furnish and equip a modern health Laboratory. This is a most helpful contribution of the present Administration.
The General Assembly in providing for the testing of tubercular cattle in this State made a step forward in the prevention of tuberculosis. The Masons of the State have made a most magnificent contribution in furnishing funds to build at Alto, Ga., a hospital for the treatment of tubercular children. We cannot at present estimate the value of this contribution in preventing human suffering, and lessening the burden to our State.
The last General Assembly appropriated $500,000.00 for erecting new buildings at the State Sanitarium-to furnish additional room for the unfortunates at Milledgeville-and $80,000.00 for sewerage equipment. One building has been completedanother is under headway.
No thoughtful citizen will question the need and the opportunity of serving the unfortunates at this institution, having in the institution 5,230 inmates.
During the present Administration a topographical survey of this property owned by the State of 3,628 acres has been made, and a program suggested as to the future building and
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expansion of this institution. There will be the need for a further building program for these unfortunates.
Gracewood, the home of the defective children, furnished by the State, has been improved.
We are training in Georgia some of her citizens on the Public Health question. The study of the Public Health problems is a tremendous need for the prevention of tuberculosis, of cancer, of malaria and other diseases. The study of Oral Hygiene, directed by the State Board of Health, under the supervision of Mrs. Kennedy, has been completed in about eleven (11) counties; and this work has been highly commended by the educators of the State.
Fortunate and happy should our people be when we remember that diphtheria-the greatly dreaded disease of childhood; the unconquerable disease of typhoid fever, and rabies, are no longer the dread of the human race, but have been conquered; and this State in its Health Department has contributed largely to these scientific problems.
During 1929 the State College of Agriculture, under the direction of its Executive Committee, of which your Governor is Chairman, and through the leadership of Dr. Andrew M. Soule, the President of the College, and his activity and judgment, the State of Georgia will soon have completed one of the most substantial and permanent athletics buildings in the Southern section of the country, costing about $75,000.00-which has not received a dollar of appropriation. There has also been established in this institution two departments in the education of Hygiene and Sanitation, and the Care of the Child.
DEPARTMENTS
We have eighty-three (83) Departments, Institutions, etc., in this State. By properly applying modern business methods, in accordance with other big business enterprises, there can be saved to this State over $800,000.00 annually, as has been estimated by those who have made investigations. Indeed other states, such as Virginia, saved over a Million Dollars in one year.
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There could perhaps be no more important contribution made than to the modernizing of our State Government and State Departments. Words that seem to me to carry with them the meaning and real service are, first, simplicity of organization; 2nd, efficiency in organization, and 3rd, economy in organization. There can be no doubt from the standpoint of a business administration as to what this can accomplish. It is oftentimes the case that statements by officials do not tally in detail-in reports of departments, etc., which is not due to dishonesty, but to the lack of business methods in handling and studying these subjects.
GOVERNMENT
Why not simplify, so that every citizen can understand his State Government? Why not organize, so that every citizen will know that the expenditures in Government are what they should be? Why not demand from every official efficiency in their respective departments? This would bring good-will and the indorsement of the people of this State.
OTHER THINGS ACCOMPLISHED BY THE PRESENT ADMINISTRATION
Some of the things that have been suggested and carried out by the present Administration are the following: The keeping and classification of all clemency matters in a report book provided in the Executive Secretary's office, so that any citizen can understand and have an opportunity to inspect these reports; the present Administration has asked every institution that is fostered and supported by appropriations of this State to have prepared a landscape, painting and program in picture form, and placed in the Capitol of this State. Visitors, both in the State and Nation as a whole, could thereby have an opportunity to see and to know Georgia's institutions and property; and the Legislature would have an opportunity to study the building programs that are being carried out concerning her own institutions of the State. Your Capitol grounds and buildings have been improved-and within your appropriation; your Mansion grounds have been improved; a monument to the great War Governor and financier, a man of judgment- with his beloved wife, has been placed on your Capitol grounds, with funds pro-
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vided by his son, Julius Brown; and as these statutes, monuments, etc., are placed on your grounds, and as these pictures are placed upon the walls of your Capitol, the student bodies of our educational institutions will have the opportunity in a day to gather largely the history of this Commonwealth.
Your Experiment Station, at Griffin, has erected this year the first building of any importance, almost, in its history. This Experiment Station was built primarily for research for the farmers of our State, and for the first time in its history it has been properly equipped for furnishing desired information to the farmer.
There is no industry in which there is a greater need for help of a substantial and sound basis, than that of agriculture, the real life and basis to the progress of our State, furnishing us the necessitities of life and the raw material for every industry.
The buildings and the water supply of your school at Dahlonega have been improved during the present Administration; and the patronage of that institution has increased under the present Heads of administration of the institution.
There are other institutions in this State that have made progress along building lines-The Georgia School of Technology has completed a new Dining Hall, and for the first time in the history of the school is able to provide sufficient room for the students-and by using the old Dining Hall space, room for about 200 more stud.ents has been provided. This building has been constructed at a cost of $130,000.00, from contributions from the Athletic Association of $20,000.00, about this much more from the alumni and friends, $50,000.00 from the Maintenance Fund, with a balance due of $40,000.00; the Georgia State College of Agriculture has erected three new buildings- The Health and Physical Education Building, at a cost of $100,000.00, of which $75,000.00 was furnished to the State-The Nurses School and Home Management Building, the latter two costing about $30,000.00-The three approximating $130,000.00. The Spellman-Rockefeller Foundation contributed $60,000.00 for the maintenance of the Health and Physical Education Building. There has also been accomplished at this Institution a great deal of work in the way of landscape gardening: Also the
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Junior College, at Douglas; The Woman's College, at Milledgeville, which has completed a Dormitory costing $111,000.00, $51,936.79 being furnished from what is known as The Emergency Fund of the College-representing room rent fees and reservations accumulated over a period long before the death of Dr. Parks, with interest on the money-$39,000.00 from the Maintenance Fund, and the rest borrowed from the Bank. Thi3, of course, is a contribution to the State, and in addition furnishes accommodations for 340 more students-and so on. These have not cost the State any-or a very small amount of money at least-but have been managed by the officials and those connected with the institution, and have given to the State of Georgia property worth several hundred thousand dollars-without a dollar's investment!

During the present Administration there has been secured a steel box for the keeping of Bonds of the Officials of the State, which is placed in the vault of the State Treasury; and through the Secretary of State's office there has been provided a manufacturing plant, which will be completed and ready for operation this year, where the State manufactures her own tags. It is estimated that within three years the State will save enough to entirely pay for the equipment, as well as give employment to those at the State Farm and pay them $1.00 a day, which, of course, will go toward the upkeep of the Farm.

The shortage in the Secretary of State's office, occurring under a previous Administration, of $8,389.99, has been collected and placed in the State Treasury.

In the Adjutant General's office there has been prepared

a Roster, or record, of the World's War Veterans, which is acces-

sible to every Ordinary in the State. This has been accomplished

during the last eighteen months.



It has fallen the duty and responsibility the Governor of this State to make appointment of several heads of important Departments of our State Government. The present Governor has had to appoint a successor to the late S. G. McLendon, Secretary of State, who passed away last year, naming Hon. George H. Carswell as his successor in office.

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The duty and responsibility also of naming a successor to Mr. Fort Land, one of our leaders in education-who rendered valuable service and made an enviable reputation in the Department of Education, has fallen upon the present Governor. Dr. M. L. Duggan was named as his successor.
It became the duty of the present Governor to name the successor to Mr. 0. R. Bennett, of the Public Service Commission, in the person of Hon. Perry T. Knight.
These appointments were approved and ratified by the vote of the people, naming each one as his own successor in office in his respective position.
CRIME
Another important matter to engage your attention is that of the lives, liberty and property of the citizens of our State, which is fundamental in your Federal Constitution and the Constitution of the State of Georgia-and that is the respect for the majesty and the enforcement of your laws.
There can be no Government without respect for authority and there must be provided a code of Government for any order in a State, or organization; and respect and obedience must be given to these regulations.
It is universally stated that disrespect for law is constantly brought to the public mind through the Press. Without respect for authority there is a tendency to disintegration and the final disruption of Government.
It has been the desire of the Chief Executive of this State, as far as he could possibly do so, to adhere and to maintain the majesty and the enforcement of the law, and to uphold the Judiciary of the State. There is no question in the mind of the present Executive of the fact that there needs to be created in some way a higher respect for life, liberty, property and obedience to law. No one has a right to violate a law because he does not believe in it. They should be enforced or repealed, and not violated.
The program for the coming Administration would not be in order on this inaugural occasion, but it will be given in the first message to the General Assembly.
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There are many problems which have confronted the Administration the last two years-and that will probably confront it in the next two years; but it is the feeling-the conscientious conviction of the present Governor, and the one who is to serve you for two years, that every representative who is here assembled has a spirit of co-operation and is determined, so far as it can be done, to eliminate personalities and politics and to give to the State the greatest, most helpful contributions in the present General Assembly that have been given to her for years. The citizens of the State whom you represent will rejoice in these contributions for their protection, care and support, and will commend you in all future times; and I pledge to you my co-operation, so far as my ability lies, in the real service of every interest in this Commonwealth.
Again I express to you and to the citizens of this State my greatest appreciation of the confidence expressed by you in my re-election, and assure you that my motive and soul and heart and efforts shall be for the welfare and upbuilding of this citizenship.
L. G. HARDMAN. This June 29, 1929.
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